Washington: Boeing has identified a previously undisclosed software glitch in some 737 MAX aircraft that could affect an automated navigation function during a landing after a missed approach, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing company documents.

The issue emerged after a cockpit software update and can occur when flight crews change their planned flight path following a missed approach. In the affected scenario, pilots may temporarily lose access to certain automated flight guidance functions and could have to rely on a lower level of automation or manual flying.

Boeing has informed operators about the issue and is working on a software fix. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also examining the matter and has said it will take action if its review identifies a safety concern.

Software issue linked to missed approaches

The glitch involves an automated navigation function used during flight operations.

According to the report, the problem can arise after a pilot performs a missed approach, commonly known as a go-around, and subsequently modifies the aircraft’s planned flight path. Under those circumstances, the aircraft’s automated vertical navigation capability may not be available for a subsequent approach.

The issue was identified following a cockpit software update. Reuters, citing the Wall Street Journal report, said Boeing had notified 737 MAX operators about the issue in late August. Boeing said the problem could mean pilots do not have access to automated flight guidance during a specific landing scenario.

The company has said existing pilot procedures provide a way to safely handle the situation while a permanent software solution is developed.

Boeing says pilots can manage the situation

Boeing told Reuters that it had shared information with 737 MAX operators about the software issue and reinforced existing procedures for pilots.

The manufacturer is working on a software update intended to address the problem permanently. Reports indicate that pilots are trained to continue an approach using other available flight guidance or manual flying procedures if the affected automation is unavailable.

The issue therefore does not mean that a 737 MAX aircraft automatically becomes unable to land. Rather, under a specific sequence of events involving a missed approach and a change in the planned flight path, some automated guidance functions may not be available.

The distinction is important because the reported software behaviour concerns a particular operating scenario rather than a general loss of aircraft control.

FAA begins review

The FAA has begun examining the reported software issue.

The US regulator said it would convene a Corrective Action Review Board to assess the matter. The agency also said it would take immediate action if its review identifies a safety concern.

The FAA’s involvement is significant because Boeing’s 737 MAX programme remains subject to close regulatory oversight following earlier safety incidents and certification reviews.

In August 2026, the FAA approved the Boeing 737 MAX-7 after an extensive review covering areas including flight controls, system safety assessments, human factors, flightcrew alerting and other safety-critical systems. The regulator said the approval followed additional testing, design changes and analysis.

The latest software review is separate from that certification decision.

Some deliveries affected

The software issue has also affected Boeing’s delivery process for some newly built 737 MAX aircraft.

Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have delayed some new 737 MAX deliveries because of the software issue, according to reports. The airlines are among the major operators of the aircraft type.

The reported delays relate to aircraft equipped with the affected software configuration. The situation does not mean that all 737 MAX aircraft have been grounded.

The issue is being addressed through operational procedures and development of a software update.

737 MAX remains under scrutiny

The latest development comes against the backdrop of extensive scrutiny of the 737 MAX following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

The crashes involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 led to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft. Investigations identified problems involving the aircraft’s flight-control systems, including the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), along with other factors.

The aircraft subsequently underwent design changes and regulatory reviews before returning to commercial service.

Boeing also faced renewed scrutiny after a door-plug panel separated from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 shortly after take-off in January 2024. The incident did not result in fatalities, but it triggered additional investigations into Boeing’s manufacturing and quality-control processes.

The latest software problem is technically different from those earlier incidents, and there is currently no indication from the reported findings that it has caused a crash or loss of an aircraft.

What the software glitch means for passengers

For passengers, the reported issue concerns a specific flight scenario rather than ordinary landing operations.

A missed approach occurs when pilots decide that an aircraft cannot safely continue its landing and must climb away for another approach. This can happen for various reasons, including weather, runway conditions, air-traffic instructions or an unstable approach.

In the situation described in the Boeing report, changing the planned flight path after such an event can result in the affected automated navigation feature becoming unavailable.

Pilots are trained to handle changes in automation and can continue flying using other available systems and manual controls. Boeing has reinforced the relevant procedures with operators while preparing the software update.

Boeing working towards permanent fix

Boeing is now working on a software correction, while the FAA continues its review.

The regulator’s assessment will determine whether additional measures are necessary. Until that process is completed, the available information points to a software issue affecting a specific landing scenario rather than a broad grounding or confirmed fleet-wide safety emergency.

The development nevertheless highlights the importance of software testing and regulatory oversight as modern commercial aircraft increasingly depend on automated flight-management and navigation systems.

For Boeing, the episode adds another technical issue to a 737 MAX programme that continues to operate under heightened regulatory attention.